Pearsons Renaissance Shoppe Blog

Bring the Renaissance Faire Home in the New Year

There is so much promise and expectation when moving into a New Year that it can be overwhelming. It is a time when many of us call on ourselves to start doing nearly everything better, and the result can bring the opposite of the intended effect. When it all seems too much, sometimes we just think “well, nevermind!” and end up doing nothing at all. I’m going to work hard to ensure that doesn’t happen to me, and I hope you will, too!

Part of safeguarding myself against feeling overwhelmed is in creating resolutions that focus on a positive rather than a negative in their approach and language. The words we say to ourselves have a power well beyond imagination, and my first resolution is to start being a lot more respectful when talking to me! That should help me carry out my other resolutions quite nicely. As for those other resolutions? One I’m really excited about it my resolve to bring the Renaissance Faire home…

As much as many of my friends and I love Renaissance Faires and Festivals, none of us are able to attend them as frequently as we would like to. Whether it’s conflicting schedules, or there simply isn’t one nearby when the Renaissance itch fires up, there are inevitably times we would love to don our favorite Renaissance costumes and get together for endless fun times, but can’t. Or can we? I think I have a solution – I’m bringing it home, baby!

We have all invested a lot of time and money into creating Renaissance costume collections that are nothing short of magnificent. It’s truly a shame to only break those pieces out of the closet a few times a year when they’re so magically fun to wear. Additionally, beyond all the clothes, shoes and jewelry, what makes the Renaissance Faire so special is being surrounded by others with a common interest who are also excited and ready for fun. The worries of the real world get to slip away for the day at a Ren Faire, and that is a rare and beautiful thing! We all get to be who we want to be – who we really are beneath all the bills, commutes, and everyday obligations. And, importantly, we get to be our relaxed Renaissance selves with friends and family. What could be better?

This year, I will still attend my favorite Faires and Festivals. I will still keep an eye open for new events that spark my interest, and attend them whenever I can. But I will also take time to set up a Renaissance-themed get-together or two in my home. I love entertaining, and it would be so much fun to see my friends arrive in their grandest garb for turkey legs at my table! And hey – if things don’t go exactly as planned, that’s OK. I’m sure we’ll have a wonderful time in any scenario, as long as I can keep the pirates from trying to set sail in the neighbor’s swimming pool!

Celebrate the New Year with Medieval Flair: Looking Back on New Year’s History

When you spend as much time around Medieval clothing, Renaissance clothing, and other historical garb as we do, you can’t help but get interested in the past a little bit. With 2013 knocking at the door, many of you are probably figuring out your New Year’s resolution or doing something similar. It might be a fun idea to resolve to look back on the past a bit in the coming year to see exactly where we’ve all come from. With that in mind, let’s take a look at how the celebration of the New Year has changed throughout history.

  • It should go without saying that the celebration of a new year is the oldest of all recorded holidays. It was first observed in Babylon about 4000 years ago. In those days, the New Year began with the first New Moon after the first day of spring. This makes sense—the season of spring feels like a true time of rebirth and renewal.
  • So how did the New Year come to fall on January 1? The Romans celebrated the New Year in late March, but emperors changed the calendar and one thing just led to another. In an effort to set the calendar straight, the Roman senate declared January 1 to be the beginning of the New Year way back in 153 BC.
  • During the Middle Ages, the Church was actually opposed to the celebration of New Years. It didn’t become a Western celebration until about 400 years ago. Huh!

Ring in the New Year in style by choosing the perfect Medieval clothing and Renaissance clothing from Pearson’s! Don’t party like it’s 2013… Party like it’s 1613!

Medieval Christmas Traditions come to Life

Bring some of the past along with your presents!

Christmas Eve is upon us, and we couldn’t be more excited! Christmas was one of the most important and sacred holidays back in the Middle Ages. It was a time of both spiritual reflection and festive gatherings! (Much like it is today, we suppose.) Let’s take a look at some of our favorite Medieval Christmas decorating ideas. You never know—it might not be too late to incorporate some of them into your very own holiday décor along with your Renaissance clothing!

  • Nativity scenes are still popular today, so they are a very easy way to bring a Medieval touch to your Christmas décor. They first appeared in 10th Century Rome, and they were quite commonplace in upper class households during the Middle Ages.
  • Holly, mistletoe, ivy, and pine boughs could be seen everywhere—from humble homes to high society—during Christmastime. These greens actually date back to pre-Christian times in Europe, where they were part of the winter solstice celebrations.
  • Apples and nuts held some symbolic meaning for Medieval Christians. They represented the Virgin Mary and the little baby Jesus. Medieval people collected them during the harvest to store throughout the winter. During the Christmas holiday, they were placed in chalices and bowls around the household. (We wonder if this is where that awful fruitcake tradition got its roots…)

From all of us here at Pearson’s Renaissance Shoppe, we hope you have a marvelous Christmas season!

Steampunk Style: From Costumes to Decor!

Match your style to your steampunk decor

Steampunk is one of our favorite fantasy offshoots. It melds Victorian aesthetic and science fiction together into a beautiful array of gizmos, gadgets, and other wonderful things. We love it, and that’s why we have a large selection of steampunk costumes to help you create the fantasy in your own life. But we also think it would be fun to take it one step further, too! Let’s look at how you can add some steampunk style to your home.

There are some great places you can look for inspiration. Think about the works of Jules Verne or H.G. Wells and go from there. The movies Wild Wild West and The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen are perfect examples of the steampunk style. The whole vibe combines the look and feel of Victorian England with funky gears, cogs, and other futuristic gadgets. Decorate your home with clocks with gears showing, hourglasses, and decorative rifles mounted on the wall. This will be perfectly complementary to a floral Victorian wallpaper and furniture. Kick it up a notch with accents including brass, copper, and dark glass and wood.

Have you decorated your home in the steampunk style already? We’d love to see some steampunk style pictures! We hear it can be just as functional as it is decorative—you can create stained glass domes for some eye-catching nightstand lamps or something similar

Harry Potter Costumes: You can have a Hogwarts Holiday!

One of the most beautiful scenes in any of the Harry Potter movies would have to be the time when Hogwarts celebrated Christmas. In fact, the witches and wizards at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry took Christmas so seriously that they celebrated it for several weeks. Each Christmas, the Hogwarts Great Hall is decorated with towering Christmas trees, holly, mistletoe, and other Yuletide accents. And, since it’s a magical world, the school is also decorated with live fairies that fly around the trees, and everlasting icicles that add a touch of winter whimsy. There’s even dry snow floating around from the Enchanted Ceiling.

You can’t quite reenact everything about a Hogwarts Christmas, but you can certainly make sure that you look the part as you celebrate your own Muggle holiday! Here at Pearson’s Renaissance Shoppe, we have a selection of Harry Potter costumes to help you look and feel magical this holiday season. You can find some unique Triwizard Tournament shirts, Hogwarts school scarves, wizard robes, wizard hats, and other great wizard costumes

You may not have access to magic, but our Harry Potter costumes will help bring a little bit of Hogwarts into your holiday celebration. And they certainly make great gifts for the Harry Potter fan on your list!

Renaissance Boots for Every Terrain, Temperature, Event and Location!

Renaissance boots are perfect for the faire grounds, but there are plenty of other fun uses for them outside of the Renaissance life. Thick, rugged boots like the Caribbean Buckle Boot and the King Richard Boot are perfect for outdoor LARPing, SCA gatherings and anything that requires rugged footwear with a Renaissance flair. For rough outdoor terrain, choose a tall, thick boot with a non-slip sole such as the Airship Captain Boot. For variable terrain and temperatures, the Porthos Boot can be worn as either a thigh-high or knee-high boot to allow you to adapt your costume to your environment!

Softer boots like the Medieval High Boot and the Men’s Renaissance Boot are perfect for indoor RPGs, theatrical productions and filking. These softer Renaissance boots are also comfortable for cons and even for everyday wear. A pair of simple boots such as the Captain Boot can be used for formal occasions as well as a day at the faire, and they adapt well to many types of costumes.

In hot weather, Renaissance garb doesn’t have to feel like a burden. Choose boots that will give you some air circulation such as the Ghillie Boot or short boots like the Viking Boot, and you’ll be ready to travel any road!

Renaissance Dresses Help You Literally Dress the Part!

Whether you enjoy spending time at Renaissance faires or fan cons, or just need a costume for a party, there’s something terrifically transformative about slipping on a Renaissance dress! The rich fabrics and feminine shapes take you out of your workaday world and let you travel to another time and place. Renaissance dresses make it easy to take on a deliciously evil persona if you choose. With the Bellatrix Lestrange Dress or Empire Woman’s Steampunk Gown, you can show the Renaissance gentlemen around you that you’re no one to be trifled with!

If deliciously evil isn’t your idea of a good time, there are plenty of Renaissance dresses to express your sweet, virtuous side as well. It’s hard to feel anything but lovely in the Bella Abita Renaissance gown. With soft layers and an embroidered bodice, you’re primed to portray that Renaissance country lass with a heart of gold. Pair it with a silk veil and you can be anything from a princess to the local smith’s daughter.

For an even sweeter persona, there’s the Medieval Lace Dress. It doesn’t get much more softly feminine than flowing white lace and a fitted bodice. Dress it up with jewels and a crown or let it be your medieval wedding gown. Just be sure to hurry – this one is on clearance!

Whichever character you wish to create, or aspect of your personality you wish to highlight, there are Renaissance dresses to help you melt away from the everyday…

Add Style and Warmth with Hooded Capes and Cloaks

If you’re looking for that special something extra to make your Renaissance outfit complete, think about how a hooded cloak would look on top of your period garb. Hooded capes and cloaks add a striking visual effect to any period outfit you wear.

If your mind keeps conjuring up Jedi robes when you imagine hooded capes, know that there are far more styles available to Renaissance cosplayers than there are to the Jedi! And, capes allow you to LARP or enjoy the faire no matter the weather. Let’s take a closer look at a few favorite options…

  • For a stunning look that will immediately draw every eye, there is the Taffeta Lace Cloak for women or men! The deep burgundy color and shimmery texture work as well for a wicked queen as they do for a fair maiden…or a confident, charming man of romance.
  • For a valiant look that adds drama to a costume, consider a Reversible Cloak. Use the black side when you want to add mystery or slip by unseen, and reverse it to purple for a dash of bright, eye-catching, royal color!
  • Mystery and intrigue abound when your costume is dark and alluring. Add that intrigue to your costume with the Magic Mist Cloak. The sheer, flowing fabric is perfect for a mage, witch, elf, or anyone who wishes to cast a glorious spell on all who see them.

Off-Season Enjoyment of Your Renaissance Interests

Medieval cloaks are especially appropriate during the chillier months of the year. While some people limit their involvement in Renaissance activities to the summer faire and theater season, others continue to enjoy this interest throughout the year. Cloaks are fantastic alternatives to winter coats, and excellent for wearing to Renaissance events being held after the summer festivals conclude. You can opt for our opulent, grandly-styled cloaks for more thematic events, or subtler, simpler designs that offer the same level of quality, but are more suited to keeping warm throughout the winter and being worn outdoors on varied terrain.

Seasonal events of winter may also be perfect for dressing in Renaissance wear, and Medieval cloaks can keep you warm in the process. A Father Christmas figure, for example, would look wonderful with a richly colored cloak. Participants in thematic villages and displays for the holidays might find Renaissance garb and cloaks to be excellent apparel choices. Surprise your literature students or classmates by dressing in thematic apparel for a unit on Shakespeare! If you are planning an early spring Renaissance event for your school, the weather will still be such that warm apparel is necessary, and a cloak is the perfect choice for staying comfortable. Of course, the use of a cloak isn’t limited to cold weather. It’s just fun to be able to continue enjoying your interests no matter how sharp the chill in the air!

Renaissance Dresses: For Noble Lady Airs and Wear

Renaissance Dress

The summer Renaissance faire season is behind, but there are still plenty of ways to find the opportunity to wear Renaissance dresses and act the part of a noble lady. Creating a realistic character, though, involves putting on the right outfit and the right airs. Whether you are mingling with other Medieval minded friends or whether you are acting before a crowd of school children, be sure that you are in character before they see you.

You can practice ahead of any formal event so that your accent is fresh and your Renaissance dresses ready. You can make sure there aren’t problems with your garb. Check to be sure there isn’t any insect infestation. While you may not have the outfits stored for winter because of pending engagements, you can still do your best to keep critters at bay by keeping dryer sheets in the storage area. Check out hair styles, crowns, trinkets and wigs in advance. If you are learning a part, run through it with a friend or family member. If you must simply be prepared to act noble, spend plenty of time preparing. At your events, make sure that you concentrate on the accent you are going to use.